Daily Times

HAMILTON: Tom Latham snapped out of a batting slump with a half-century as New Zealand set about compiling a healthy lead on the fourth day of the second Test against Pakistan on Monday.

At lunch New Zealand, 1-0 up in the two-Test series and seeking their first series win over Pakistan in more than 30 years, were 97-1 with Latham unbeaten on 53.

After getting out to Mohammad Amir on the first ball during the first innings, Latham struck a convincing half-century — which went down as the 11^th of his career.

After New Zealand faced only one ball of their second innings before rain ended play on Sunday, Latham and Jeet Raval played patiently through 28 deliveries at the start on Monday before getting the scoreboard moving.

They were able to take quick singles when Imran Khan was brought into the attack early so Amir could switch ends to have the stiff breeze behind him.

The switch worked as Amir immediately had Raval trapped lbw for two, the first time the rookie New Zealand opener has failed to reach double figures in his two Tests so far.

Latham brought up his 50 with three boundaries off the 24-year-old pacer in the final over before lunch in what has been a shaky innings.

He survived a run out appeal by the narrowest of margins on 23 after being called through for a quick single by Williamson.

After watching multiple television replays, umpire Ian Gould ruled there was one frame in it and Latham was not out.

But Gould then mistakenly pushed the wrong button and “out” flashed on the big screen before it was quickly changed.

Pakistan had earlier wasted a review on Latham before he had scored when Sohail Khan’s appeal for lbw was rejected after the television replay showed a clear inside edge.

Latham, eventually, faltered on Wahab Riaz’s bouncer, which took the leading edge before submitting into Sarfraz Ahmed’s gloves. The left-handed opener’s 150-ball knock saw him add 80 to the home side’s total with 12 boundaries.

Latham was also dropped by Sami Aslam off Amir on 41. It has not been a happy Test for Aslam, who dropped Raval twice off Amir in New Zealand’s first innings.